Govt Notifies NIAB As Central Drugs Laboratory For Testing, Batch Release Of COVID-19 Vaccines

The Central government has notified the Hyderabad-based National Institute of Animal Biotechnology (NIAB) as Central Drugs Laboratory (CDL) for testing and batch release of COVID-19 vaccines.

The government had identified NIAB and Pune-based National Centre for Cell Science (NCCS) for upgradation as central drug laboratories.

The funding support for the same was provided under the PM-CARES funds.

The NCCS was already notified as a central drug laboratory on 28 June this year.

Earlier, the CDL in Himachal Pradesh’s Kasauli was the only laboratory in India that was authorised by the government to check the safety and efficacy of vaccines, including the Covid vaccines, available in the Indian market.

"With support from PM CARES funds, the laboratory of the National Institute of animal Biotechnology (NIAB), has been upgraded as Central Drugs Laboratory (CDL) for COVID-19 vaccine testing facility at Hyderabad," the Health Ministry said on Saturday (20 August).

"The facility at NIAB, Hyderabad, has now been notified as Central Drugs Laboratory for testing and lot release of COVID-19 vaccines through a Gazette notification issued by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on 17 August 2021," it added.

The two facilities are expected to test approximately 60 batches of vaccines per month. Considering that the facilities are located in proximity to the vaccine manufacturing hubs of the nation, logistics for vaccine manufacturing and supply are expected to be eased up, the ministry said.

According to the ministry, the two new CDLs would further strengthen the vaccine supply chain and boost the massive vaccination drive in India.